After its hiatus on the previous generation of consoles, EA's giant Star Wars Battlefront returns in full force (see what I did there) next month. This Thursday, however, fans worldwide were treated to the free beta which dropped in the PlayStation store around 3pm GMT. After a relatively quick download we were ready to go.

AT-AT last (the shoddy puns will stop soon I promise), a proper next generation Battlefront game. Any worries that the graphics would need some polishing were soon put to bed as I jumped straight into Hoth's famed snowy battle grounds. The game is absolutely stunning. Footprints remain in the snow, character models are flawless in third person and Luke Skywalker... well, looks like Luke Skywalker. There are some excellent touches with the animation too, as the player's hands recoil from an overheated weapon if the reload is not executed properly. It's small inclusions like this that underline just how hard Dice have worked to make this game visually outstanding.

 

Star Wars fans will be in love with the authenticity of this title. Stormtroopers appear as exact replicas of their film counterparts and their blaster rifles sound just as they would on the big screen. Vehicular combat feels powerful and easy to control, really allowing fans to lose themselves in the might of the Empire.

The gameplay feels, on first impression, like a refined Battlefield title with a lick of Star Wars coloured paint. This is by no means a bad thing as Dice are accustomed to providing excellent online shooters. But the more you play the more you realise just how fleshed out the game is going to be. You're given choices between a grenade, a rechargeable sniper and jet pack for instance as you bid to complete the ultimate rebel/stormtrooper. Pickups such as the ability to get in X Fighters or AT-ST's for example spawn frequently across the map allowing for some interesting twists on regular run-and-gun gameplay. However, by far the most impressive pick up is the lightsaber-based 'Hero or Villain' modifier. Without giving too much away, when you return to the battle you'll have to pick your jaw up from the ground.

 

It's difficult not to get too carried away by the quality of this beta but it's certainly worth checking out if you're at all sceptical. And if you're planning on buying it but haven't checked out this demo, you needn't bother. Battlefront will live up to every expectation you have and even surpass them. The game is shaping up to be one of the defining shooters of this generation. May the force be with you.